The primary election results are somewhat interesting but not very surprising to see. Several so-called conservative Republicans are winning over incumbent moderate Republicans in the Alaska House and Senate districts representing people in the Anchorage, Mat-Su and Fairbanks communities.
As an observer from the small village of Scammon Bay, located 560 miles due west of Anchorage, I find it strangely disturbing to hear that the so-called conservative Republicans were angered when the moderate Republican House and Senate legislators compromised with the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate on the legislative committee leadership positions and the size of the Permanent Fund dividend. There is absolutely nothing wrong when Democrats and Republicans work together in the best interest of all Alaskans, rural and urban. People should be praising Democrats and Republicans when they cooperate and do their jobs in the best way possible.
For conservative Republicans to hold that attitude “it’s them and we’re us,” will do nothing but divide or worst damage a healthy working relationship between Republicans and Democrats in the halls of the Alaska Legislature. With the state of Alaska in a huge budget deficit of way over $1 billion, it’s not going to be easy to come up with a bigger PFD; it’s going to take hard work, math calculations and including cooperative effort with the newcomers. We may come to the realization that all Alaskans might have to sacrifice for two years by not getting PFDs until the Permanent Fund earnings reserve account rebounds with surplus funds that can be calculated to give a big amount of PFDs for every Alaskan.
Homer Hunter, Jr.
Scammon Bay
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